Press digest for Saturday September 03, 2011

5^min

Hariri’s return

Sources close to former PM Saad Hariri told Al Siyasa newspaper that there are no signs of Hariri returning to Beirut in the near term, amid the current situation in Lebanon and the region.

These sources said that PM Hariri will wait until the outcome of the situation in Syria becomes evident before deciding what his next steps will be. The sources added that PM Hariri is closely following the latest events on the Lebanese and Arab political scene, and that he is in contact with Future Movement and March 14 leaders on a daily basis.

According to Al Siyasa daily, Hariri’s return to Beirut will be discussed with his allies and will be agreed on away from the media.

Paris urges Lebanon to respect 1701 resolution

French diplomatic sources told An-Nahar daily that French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe met with PM Najib Mikati during the “Friends of Libya” conference on Thursday where he expressed his concerns about the current situation in southern Lebanon.

Juppe stressed his concern for the situation in the south after the attacks on the 27th of May targeting a contingent of French UNIFIL troops.

The sources added that FM Juppe called on Lebanese political parties to respect U.N. resolution 1701 which guarantees Lebanon’s security.

Assad will have to think twice: U.S. officials

American diplomatic sources in Paris told Al-Hayat daily that every Syrian businessman, in Syria or abroad, will be targeted by the latest sanctions imposed if they decide to finance the current Syrian regime.

On the Lebanese Canadian Bank issue -accused by the US Treasury Department of money laundering-, the sources said the Lebanese banking system responded effectively and realized the dangers of letting Syria use Lebanese banks to evade international sanctions.

The sources said that Syrian President Bashar Assad will have to think twice before manipulating the Lebanese political scene for his own interests since such a move would be obvious and unacceptable for the international community.

On the American stance towards PM Mikati’s cabinet, the sources told An-Nahar that the US took a neutral position towards the cabinet and is closely observing Mikati’s activities without interference.

Mikati to New York at the end of the month

United Nations diplomatic sources told An-Nahar daily, that PM Najib Mikati will be visiting New York at the end of September, to attend the 27th the Security Council’s meeting on the Middle East and Palestine.

The Sources added that PM Mikati will not be taking the same flight as President Sleiman on the 18th of September. The President, along with the Lebanese delegation, will be attending the 66th annual session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

According to the sources, the monthly Security Council’s meeting on Palestine will be closed to the media and attendance will be limited to the 15 current members of the Council. Israel has never been elected as a member of the Security Council and will not be in attendance.

March 14 sees STL as ticking timebomb

March 14 sources told An-Nahar that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to investigate former PM Rafic Hariri’s assassination has been a ticking timebomb for the past six years.

The sources added that today Lebanon faces a great challenge with the STL indictment to implement justice and close the case. They also expect the Syrian Regime to put pressure on Lebanon after the recent international economic sanctions on Syrian crude oil that cost the regime $8 million daily.

Syria will try to evade its sanctions through the liberal economic regime in Lebanon which, source said, will not be easy achieved under the close scrutiny of the international community.